As the number of products suspected of having been processed with Chang Guann Co’s (強冠企業) allegedly tainted lard oil reached 187 yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that vendors who still have suspect products made from the tainted lard oil on their shelves risk being fined between NT$60,000 and NT$50 million (US$1,990 and US$1.66 million), starting today.
FDA Deputy Director-General Chiang Yi-mei (姜郁美) made the announcement at a news conference in Taipei.
She said vendors who still have Chuan Tung (全統) brand fragrant lard, the 24 lard products allegedly refined with feed-oil imported from Hong Kong by Chang Guann, as well as food products suspected to have been manufactured with the problematic food oils, could be fined.
The agency has ordered that all 25 lard products made by Chang Guann be removed from shelves nationwide, Chiang said, but it is still trying to determine which countries or regions might have imported the 12 feed-oil lard products known to be tainted in addition to the six importers in Hong Kong and one in Macau that have already been identified.
All countries to which Chuan Tung fragrant lard — the first product found to be have been tainted with contaminated oil during the first wave of the food scandal that erupted on Sept. 4 — had been exported have been informed and told that the products should be pulled from distribution channels.
The FDA has ordered local health agencies to start monitoring food companies and manufacturers who have been affected by the tainted lard oil by having them provide information on the types of food oils used in the manufacturing of their relisted products, including serial numbers and whether they have been repackaged, Chiang said.
Meanwhile, agency officials said that a total of 371.3 tonnes of suspect products have been sealed, while 12.3 tonnes have been discarded.
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: Taiwan shares the same values as those that fought in WWII, and nations must unite to halt the expansion of a new authoritarian bloc, Lai said The government yesterday held a commemoration ceremony for Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, joining the rest of the world for the first time to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Taiwan honoring V-E Day signifies “our growing connections with the international community,” President William Lai (賴清德) said at a reception in Taipei on the 80th anniversary of V-E Day. One of the major lessons of World War II is that “authoritarianism and aggression lead only to slaughter, tragedy and greater inequality,” Lai said. Even more importantly, the war also taught people that “those who cherish peace cannot
STEADFAST FRIEND: The bills encourage increased Taiwan-US engagement and address China’s distortion of UN Resolution 2758 to isolate Taiwan internationally The Presidential Office yesterday thanked the US House of Representatives for unanimously passing two Taiwan-related bills highlighting its solid support for Taiwan’s democracy and global participation, and for deepening bilateral relations. One of the bills, the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, requires the US Department of State to periodically review its guidelines for engagement with Taiwan, and report to the US Congress on the guidelines and plans to lift self-imposed limitations on US-Taiwan engagement. The other bill is the Taiwan International Solidarity Act, which clarifies that UN Resolution 2758 does not address the issue of the representation of Taiwan or its people in
The Philippines yesterday criticized a “high-risk” maneuver by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies. The Scarborough Shoal — a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested South China Sea — has been a flash point between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Taiwan also claims the shoal. Monday’s encounter took place approximately 11.8 nautical miles (22km) southeast” of the Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine military said, during ongoing US-Philippine military exercises that Beijing has criticized as destabilizing. “The Chinese frigate BN 554 was
LEISURE: The new law adds Confucius’ birthday, the anniversary of the Battle of Guningtou, Constitution Day and Little New Year as national holidays The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed new legislation adding four national holidays and making Workers’ Day a national holiday for all sectors. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party used their combined majority in the legislature to push the jointly proposed draft through its third and final reading. This new law supersedes the existing regulations for the implementation of memorial days and state holidays, which are administered by the Ministry of the Interior. The new law recognizes Confucius’ birthday on Sept. 28, the anniversary of the Battle of Guningtou on Oct. 25, Constitution Day on Dec. 25 and “Little New Year,”
RSS